Definitive Gen X song?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it’s Don’t You Forget About Me for older Xers, and Smells Like Teen Spirit for younger ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s Don’t You Forget About Me for older Xers, and Smells Like Teen Spirit for younger ones.

+1

[Anonymous]

I’m a loser, baby . . . So why don’t ya kill me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The white stripes and Jack White seems like they are up there in terms of ultimate Gen Xers. Meg turned 50 last year and Jack turned 50 this summer. Oof.

So for me, Seven Nation Army would have to at least be on this list.

No, they’re not in the canon. Fine song and good artist but they’re not iconic the way some of the others in this thread.

Excluding “Smells Like Teen Spirit” seems like a weird contortion that essentially concedes it is the definitive GenX anthem.

+1. The lady doth protest too much.

[Anonymous]

So I’m not gonna dispute people because I think there are many answers to this question, but it does kind of irk me that some of the songs people picked are songs by boomer bands. Simple Minds, R.E.M., all boomers. Totally agree that they shaped part of our childhood, but I also think you have to give credit for actual Gen X making music.

Dave Grohl is late 50s but still a bona fide Gen Xer. Same with White Stripes.

Just had to point that out. I think pop culture got really exciting for me when it was actually my generation putting out stuff.

[Anonymous]

Basket Case

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I’m not gonna dispute people because I think there are many answers to this question, but it does kind of irk me that some of the songs people picked are songs by boomer bands. Simple Minds, R.E.M., all boomers. Totally agree that they shaped part of our childhood, but I also think you have to give credit for actual Gen X making music.

Dave Grohl is late 50s but still a bona fide Gen Xer. Same with White Stripes.

Just had to point that out. I think pop culture got really exciting for me when it was actually my generation putting out stuff.

That's common though. The Beatles are all Silent Generation, but they undeniably music for Boomers. I'm an older millennial and most of the music that was influential for me growing up was made by Gen Xers, because they were old enough to be selling albums when I was in high school.

[Anonymous]

Under the Bridge

[Anonymous]

Can a Baby Boomer have made a Gen X classic? Thats what gives Nirvana a leg up but Purple Rain has to be considered for us older Xers if it’s allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I’m not gonna dispute people because I think there are many answers to this question, but it does kind of irk me that some of the songs people picked are songs by boomer bands. Simple Minds, R.E.M., all boomers. Totally agree that they shaped part of our childhood, but I also think you have to give credit for actual Gen X making music.

Dave Grohl is late 50s but still a bona fide Gen Xer. Same with White Stripes.

Just had to point that out. I think pop culture got really exciting for me when it was actually my generation putting out stuff.

Sorry, I missed this before I posted. It is a key question. It took a bit for our crowd to get airplay so what Gen X was hearing in their early teens was made by Boomers.

[Anonymous]

Well, if you’re not going to let me choose the obvious answer here (Smells Like Teen Spirit), then I guess I will have to go across the pond:

Oasis- Don’t Look Back in Anger and/or Wonderwall

[Anonymous]

Going the Distance, Cake. Because it's about the emptiness of success - so GenX. And it uses the term "monster truck force."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smells like Teen Spirit.

absolutely

[Anonymous]

Closing Time by Semisonic

"Closing time, time for you to go out
To the places you will be from"

[Anonymous]

Baby Got Back